The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-25
A Question for Mr.. Carlisle.

According to our dispatches Mr.. Randall
is very anxious to be re-appointed Chair
man of the Committee on Appropriations,
and is in Washington to see what his
chances are for getting the position. 1t is
also stated that Alexander X. Mcclure, on
behalf of Mr. Randall, has approached Mr.
Carlisle with regard TO the matter, but has
received no satisfactory answer.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Carlisle will be
reelected Speaker and that in making up
the committees he will strive to so arrange
them as to produce harmony in the Demo-
cratic ranks on all great questions that are
likely to come before the House during the
present Congress The most important of
these is that of tariff reduction The
Democratic majority is much smaller in
this Congress than it was in the last and it
will require about every Democratic vote to
pass a tariff reduction bill
1t is absolutely necessary for the welfare
of the country, and the success of the Dem
ocratic party in the next national campaign
that the tariff shall he reduced 1t is I'M
derstood that the President will urge a re-
duction with even more emphasis in his
one, and it is certain that all the Democrat
ic leaders, with the exception of Mr.. Ran
dali, will agree upon a tariff reduction
measure
The question, what shall be done with Mr..
Randall in framing the committees is a
very difficult one, but it is one that Mr.. Car
Isle will have to settle. Mr. Randall wants
his old place at the head of the Appropria-
tions Committee. 1t is a place of impor-
lance and power. Mr. Carlisle would gladly
give it TO him if he were sure that he would
not use it to obstruct a reduction of the
tariff. But he is not sure that he will not
so use it. In fact, he has good reason to be-
lieve that he will use it in that way 1t is
asserted that he SO used it in the last Con-
greSs and he has given no hint that he will
not so use it again.
Under the circumstances, why should the
Democratic party heap honors upon Mr..
Randall. Why should it put a weapon in
his hand which he is certain to use in way
to injuIe it? The tariff issue is the most
distinctive one which separates the two
great parties, and Mr.. Randall is on the
Republican side of it. Standing within the
Democratic fold he strikes blows for the
Republican cause. He gives the impression
to the country that the Democratic party is
divided upon the most important quest ion
before the country, while the Republican
party is united. By this means the Demo
cratic party is weakened and the Republi-
can party strengthened.
1t may be said that if Mr. Randall is not
given the craftsmanship he wants he win
fight tariff reduction anyhow, and that sym
pathy for him may give him larger Demo
cratic following than if he is still treated as
an honored Democratic leader If there are
any whose sympathy for a man who has
already done the party incalculable damage,
and who proposes to do it still greater dam
age, is greater than their desire for the sue
cess of their party, they are very lukewarm
Democrats and the sooner they are dropped
from the Democratic roll the better it will
be for the party. But it is doubtful if there
are many who will join with Mr. Randall to
obstruct their party. When the test comes
the weakened ones will lack the courage
to give the Republican party an advantage
which. if skillfully used, might give that
party control of the government If Mr..
Randall persists in differing with his party,
there is no obligation resting upon it to
honor him.